Archives for September 2018

Higher Ed: Effective Correction

Most people do not necessarily enjoy being told when they are wrong. The formal education experience can at times seem like it is full of those moments – between corrections, grades, comments and evaluations.  In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton discuss ways to correct without rejecting.

Those big, red X’s splashed all over a Math test, or those comments scribbled in the margins of papers, can lead students to focus on the fact that they got an answer wrong, instead of the fact that they have a learning opportunity to master some material. And nasty comments from a student on a teacher or course evaluation may not motivate teachers to do better.

“If someone just says too much work, or, you know, Burger was so mean I can’t stand him, that’s not particularly helpful” says Ed referring to student evaluations of teachers. ” And even if that’s followed by an actual interesting idea, I might dismiss it a little bit because I see the context.”

So how can students and teachers – and anybody, really –  effectively convey ideas for improvements?

Ed has some ideas:

  • Keep it about the question, paper, assignment, or class at hand. Don’t elevate the criticism into something of broader scope.
  • Keep the situation focused on thoughtful – rather than purely emotion – inputs and responses.
  • Focus on what can be learned from the situation.

Listen to the full episode for more thoughts about both giving and receiving constructive corrections and to hear the solution to the puzzler about the digits of our left hand. Still trying to multiply the number of left hand digits of everyone on the planet? Turns out there is a quick and easy way to figure it out.

This episode was recorded on Aug. 9, 2018.

KUT Weekend – September 28, 2018

How a sudden setback can lead to a renter’s eviction in Travis County. Plus, Austin spent millions of dollars moving people out of a flood plain, but now a new map puts some of them back in. And a new docuseries about the tacos of Texas! Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Standard: September 28, 2018

It’s a who’s who of Texas politics and it happens over one weekend each September. And we’re there- broadcasting live from the Texas Tribune Festival.
Today we’re coming to you from one of the most iconic streets in Texas: Congress Avenue in Austin. Where thousands of political movers and shakers from across Texas and the nation, have descended to discuss the state of the Lone Star State and our future. From immigration to criminal justice, voter participation, local control and the shrinking political center… it’s all on the table. So, pull up a chair for a special edition of the Texas Standard.

Midterms

As newscasters and other political junkies are fond of pointing out, only a few weeks remain until November’s midterm elections. And fewer reamin until the deadline to register to vote. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Thomas Dybdahl: “Can I Have It All”

Eighteen years into his musical career, Norwegian singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl still astonishes audiences with his pop vocals and multi-instrumental talent. Dybdahl’s already impressive discography is up to two EPs and seven LPs, and it expands in two weeks with the eighth full-length installment.

All These Things comes out on October 12th, featuring nine new songs from Dybdahl, not to mention a powerhouse backing band and production from the Grammy-winning Larry Klein, who’s worked with everyone from Shawn Colvin to Dinosaur Jr., Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hanccock and beyond. You can get a glimpse at the goods from All These Things and start your weekend off right with “Can I Have It All”!

Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Texas Standard: September 27, 2018

A new phase in the fight over the Kavanaugh nomination gets underway, raising questions of what due process means in the Me Too era. The latest on the confirmation of President Trump’s high court nominee and placing the proceedings in a different sort of historical context. Also, the 5G revolution: experts tell us it will change our lives. But as local officials look at regulation, the Feds now say hands off. Tech guru Omar Gallaga with what’s at stake. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

demitasse: “Sorry (I Only Wanted to Make You)”

Sounding less like star-crossed lovers and more like bar-tossed brothers, San Antonio duo demitasse is one of the tightest acoustic groups you’ll ever hear. Erik Sanden and Joe Reyes consider this a side project to their art rock band Buttercup, and although “demitasse” describes a small cup of coffee, the close-knit chemistry behind the group brings a plentiful portion of folk pop to the table.

Tomorrow demitasse releases the follow-up to their 2014 debut record Blue Medicine, an eleven-track full-length affectionately entitled powercouple. In less than twenty four hours you’ll be able to enjoy the intimate acoustic arrangements on powercouple and for now, here’s “Sorry (I Only Wanted to Make You)”!

This Song: Ghostland Observatory

Thomas Ross Turner from Ghostland Observatory explains how hearing “White Horse” by Laid Back piqued his interest in electronic music and started him on his journey as a musician.

Ghostland Observatory has a new album out called “See You Later Simulator.” Listen to the record here.

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Listen to Aaron Behrens talk about how Curtis Mayfield’s “We People Darker Than Blue,” influenced his musical journey.

Listen to Ghostland’s Spotify playlist of songs that inspired their new record “See You Later Simulator.”

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

Texas Standard: September 26, 2018

The Texas Attorney General is now getting involved in a court fight over whether Texas school children should be required to say the pledge of allegiance, we’ll explore the implications. Also, should toothless inmates in Texas be provided dentures? Right now, many are not. We’ll take a look at the policy some say needs to change. And something that may be in your garage or shed right now could be contributing to the decline in the bee population. We’ll take a look. Plus, speaking of bees, we’ll get the goods on honey. What is it exactly? We’ll hear from our insect expert. Plus, tracking especially high rates of asthma in Dallas. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:

Roosevelt: “Forgive” (feat. Washed Out)

German-born singer-songwriter Marius Lauber has come a long way since his early days playing drums for an teenage indie group; now we know him best as Roosevelt. Lauber made his premiere as Roosevelt in 2013 with the EP Elliot, following it up with his 2016 self-titled full-length. Now at twenty-seven, this producer is hungry for bigger, burlier and brighter beats and he’s delivered just that with the latest Roosevelt record.

Roosevelt navigates through the electronic spectrum from synth-pop to chill-wave and everywhere in between with a dozen new tracks on Young Romance, coming out this Friday. In the meantime, satiate your synth sensibilities with the penultimate number from Young Romance, featuring Washed Out, “Forgive”!

Texas Standard: September 25, 2018

Proposed changes to legal immigration here in the U.S. that would especially affect the poor. We’ll take a look at the possible impacts. Plus, President Trump has signed the largest VA budget ever. What the money is going towards and where it’s coming from. And we’ll head to Sonora, Texas where unprecedented flooding has damaged hundreds of homes. Also we’ll hear how Texas waterways when not causing the damage like in that city, can provide access to parts of the state that are otherwise off-limits. Plus why Mexico’s new president-elect could change the messaging on birth control, and why Laredo city officials have found themselves in a tough position when it comes to next steps for a border wall. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Adam Hood: “She Don’t Love Me” (feat. Brent Cobb)

While words like “Americana”, “country”, “blues” and “soul” come close, the stylings of singer-songwriter Adam Hood are best described as “southern music”.

Hailing from Opelika, Alabama and currently based out of Northport, Hood began playing live shows at the age of sixteen and in just the past decade has become a full-blown prince of performance and a bastion of blue collar lyricism. The uplifting charm behind Hood’s live tracks return to a studio sound with his upcoming full-length Somewhere In Between.

Stripped-down and lacking over-produced studio superficiality, Somewhere in Between brings the steamy southern sounds directly to your headphones, car stereo or living room, and will have you hankering for another listen the moment its over. Last Saturday Hood kicked off a fall national tour in support of Somewhere in Between, continuing through December with lots of stops across the Lone Star State! Somewhere in Between comes out October 12th and here’s a preview featuring Brent Cobb, “She Don’t Love Me”!

How We Learn Language (Rebroadcast)

Can you remember what it was like for you to learn your native language?  Probably not, but why is that?

As humans, we begin learning to speak our native language during the earliest stages of our lives, in infancy.  Most people don’t have many accessible memories from this period of development. How do we do that?

If we can learn a language in our infant stages of life, why is it so difficult to learn a second language later in life?

On this week’s episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Art Markman and Bob Duke explore how we learn a language.

Texas Standard: September 24, 2018

9 people dead, 22 others injured, since 2006 because of natural gas leaks. What are Texas regulators doing about it? An investigative reporter with the Dallas Morning News tells us about dangers facing homeowners due to natural gas leaks and the failure of Texas regulators to to hold companies accountable. We’ll hear details. And going up? Normally gas prices drift lower as we move into fall, but a 4 year high in the price of crude today has some worried. We’ll look at what’s behind it. And our attitude toward doctors: bad for our health? All of that and then some coming up today on the Texas Standard:

Lucy Wainwright Roche: “Soft Line”

There’s no use in denying the aural ancestry behind the name Lucy Wainwright Roche.

She’s the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche (of The Roches), not to mention the half-sibling of Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, so it’s safe to say she flourishes from her folk-friendly family. Lucy has released two albums with her mother Suzzy and one with her half-sister Martha, but she’s also made quite a name for herself with her own solo singer-songwriter career.

In just a few days, Lucy Wainwright Roche releases her first solo album in five years and third solo album overall, Little Beast. The thirteen songs on Little Beast fuse everything Lucy has learned about folk over the years and you can hear it in its entirety this Friday. Lucy Wainwright Roche stops by the Paramount next Thursday, but for now here’s one of the album’s two lead singles, “Soft Line”!

Higher Ed: How Much Is Too Much On A College Application?

High school seniors have something extra added to their workload in the fall semester. Those who are going on to college have to navigate the college application process. In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton dissect that annual dash to compile transcripts, test scores, essays and teacher recommendations.

In an effort to set themselves apart from other applicants, students may be tempted to show breadth and depth in everything they have tackled in high school.

“I think if you’re just vomiting out a long list of activities and successes and awards and things, I think that then gets blurred over,” says Ed. ” I think the thing that an individual should be doing here is telling a story. They should be telling a story about their recent history – the highs and the lows and how they see themselves as having changed through their education up to that point.”

Ed says he believes that story should also include students’ assertions about why they think they are a good fit for the schools where they apply. He encourages specificity about what has attracted a student to a particular institution ( think “the soft serve ice cream in the dining hall”!) rather than generic platitudes about a school.

Listen to the full episode for more suggestions about navigating the college application process (are interviews still recommended or not?) as well as the new puzzler. Lefties unite! This puzzler is all about the digits on our left hand.

This episode was recorded on Aug. 9, 2018.

Judge Harriet M. Murphy, pt. 2 (Ep, 42, 2018)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes a conversation with The Honorable Dr. Harriet M. Murphy, retired Municipal Court Judge, civil rights activist, former college professor and department head, and author of There All The Honor Lies: A Memoir.

Judge Harriet M. Murphy, pt. 1 (Ep. 41, 2018)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. begins a conversation with The Honorable Dr. Harriet M. Murphy, retired Municipal Court Judge, civil rights activist, former college professor and department head, and author of There All The Honor Lies: A Memoir.